History 247-20th Century Africa

“… Nationalism was a way to become less poor, to send their children to school, benefit from better roads, prices, public services. They [the majority of the people] looked to nationalism for social gains, while the educated few mostly had their eyes on political gains.”

Kwame Nkrumah on “Nationalism’

“In accepting the British government’s offer of 1951 to make him leader of a … government pledged to an eventual African independence …Nkrumah told his voters:

‘there is a great risk in accepting office under this new constitution which still makes us half-slaves and half-free.’ There would be a great need for ‘vigilance and moral courage’ to withstand the consequent temptations of ‘temporary personal advantage.’This was because ‘bribery and corruption, both moral and factual have eaten into the whole fabric of our society and these must be stamped out if we are to achieve any progress’. “

As a young student (above) and an inspirational leader (right) of southern Nigeria.

Nigeria: a case of ‘federalism’

As Nkrumah and his ‘Veranda Boys’ were consolidating power in southern Gold Coast, yet another constitution was imposed in Nigeria. The 1954 document placed even more emphasis on the role of the ‘Federal’ government but the regional ethnic rivalries and tensions were by then well entrenched.